Why Do You Write?

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Abstract

e their words, simply to have them written down. It does not matter how many people read them — it’s not about scoring “likes.” Sometimes it’s enough to know one’s words are out there, that one has expressed and shared thoughts that matter. Writing has a promise of permanence, that the words, and the thoughts behind them, are immortalized.</p><h2 id="b2e0">To Educate</h2><p id="f6a4">The philosopher, Augustine, wrote that all communication is teaching. Even an utterance as simple as “put that there,” is an intention to educate another person about what one wants. Words are good at educating and informing others.</p><p id="8b31">Perhaps we are writing not only for ourselves but for others. Perhaps we want to get across a message, a meaning, that is important to us. We may write to help people understand something, our words out there to be read, taken in, and understood. We may want our words to make a difference in the world, even if it is merely to one other person.</p><p id="5281">Many people feel the urge to write to share what they know. Millions of messages, articles, and books are written to inform others. Many writers are diligently sharing their knowledge hoping that readers will learn and benefit. There is so much writing from which to learn, and to add one’s own compositions to the ever-expanding

Options

treasure trove of human writing is a beautiful act.</p><h2 id="ad3f">To Dialogue</h2><p id="d0d2">The philosopher George Berkeley wrote that if a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to hear it, the falling tree makes no sound. He’s correct. The ground may vibrate from the impact, but without an ear to hear, the vibrations can’t create a sound.</p><p id="8471">Dialogue is the same. If no one is around to respond to what you express, your words create no dialogue. Sometimes we write for reasons beyond expressing ourselves or educating — we want to have a two-way exchange of ideas with other people. We have the urge to share our thoughts with them and hear their thoughts in reply.</p><p id="98ce">The age of paper letters is long gone, but because of the Internet, it is now much easier to dialogue with other people. Faster too. You can post your writing on the Internet and receive responses from almost anyone anywhere. The opportunities for dialogue are almost unlimited. All it takes to start it is to write, and then hope there is someone around to read it and respond.</p><h2 id="0259">There Are as Many Whys as there Are People</h2><p id="af17">We are all individuals. Please tell me why you write. One of the three possibilities I name, all three, or something I hadn’t thought of?</p></article></body>

A philosopher’s inquiry.

(Source: YayImages)

Writing is a very old human practice. Some say that writing is what defines civilization. Writing is an activity that anyone can do, even if one can’t do it well.

Many people feel the urge to write; always have. Why? Why do you feel the urge to write? I can think of three possible motivations for producing written words.

To Express

We are freewill beings with much on our minds and in our souls. It is natural for beings such as us to want to let out all that is inside. Writing down thoughts and feelings is an excellent way to express oneself. From simple jottings to elaborate works of art, human emotions, ambitions, and perspectives come to life through the written word.

Personal diaries are less common today, but some people desire to put their words down simply to express what’s inside. They feel no need for their words to travel. Their thoughts are not locked up in words, but those words are stored, held in safekeeping.

Perhaps a person doesn’t want to share their words, simply to have them written down. It does not matter how many people read them — it’s not about scoring “likes.” Sometimes it’s enough to know one’s words are out there, that one has expressed and shared thoughts that matter. Writing has a promise of permanence, that the words, and the thoughts behind them, are immortalized.

To Educate

The philosopher, Augustine, wrote that all communication is teaching. Even an utterance as simple as “put that there,” is an intention to educate another person about what one wants. Words are good at educating and informing others.

Perhaps we are writing not only for ourselves but for others. Perhaps we want to get across a message, a meaning, that is important to us. We may write to help people understand something, our words out there to be read, taken in, and understood. We may want our words to make a difference in the world, even if it is merely to one other person.

Many people feel the urge to write to share what they know. Millions of messages, articles, and books are written to inform others. Many writers are diligently sharing their knowledge hoping that readers will learn and benefit. There is so much writing from which to learn, and to add one’s own compositions to the ever-expanding treasure trove of human writing is a beautiful act.

To Dialogue

The philosopher George Berkeley wrote that if a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to hear it, the falling tree makes no sound. He’s correct. The ground may vibrate from the impact, but without an ear to hear, the vibrations can’t create a sound.

Dialogue is the same. If no one is around to respond to what you express, your words create no dialogue. Sometimes we write for reasons beyond expressing ourselves or educating — we want to have a two-way exchange of ideas with other people. We have the urge to share our thoughts with them and hear their thoughts in reply.

The age of paper letters is long gone, but because of the Internet, it is now much easier to dialogue with other people. Faster too. You can post your writing on the Internet and receive responses from almost anyone anywhere. The opportunities for dialogue are almost unlimited. All it takes to start it is to write, and then hope there is someone around to read it and respond.